Tefillah—prayer—is the second pillar. During these days prayer becomes more frequent, more honest, and more focused. The daily recitation of Psalm 27, the addition of Selichot, and the approaching High Holiday liturgy all train the heart to cry out with greater intensity.
The Tanach is filled with models of authentic prayer. Hannah pours out her anguish silently before the Lord. David’s psalms move from complaint to confidence, from despair to praise. Daniel opens his windows toward Jerusalem and prays three times a day even when it is forbidden. The prophets intercede for a people who often do not intercede for themselves. Prayer is the language of relationship with the living God.
Yeshua taught His disciples to pray with simplicity, persistence, and faith. He Himself spent whole nights in prayer and, in Gethsemane, modeled honest struggle before the Father. The Apostolic Writings urges believers to “pray without ceasing” (1 Thessalonians 5:17) and to approach the throne of grace with confidence because of the High Priest who has gone before us (Hebrews 4:14–16).
Prayer for the restoration of Israel is especially fitting in this season. The prophets themselves stood in the gap; we join that long line of intercessors. To pray for the peace of Jerusalem, the gathering of the exiles, the reunification of the two houses, and the full knowledge of the Lord in the land is to align oneself with the revealed purposes of God.
As prayer intensifies, it is helpful to remember that tefillah is not primarily about obtaining results but about relationship. The goal is to be with the Holy One, to pour out the heart, and to align the will with His. In that place of communion, intercession for the restoration of Israel flows naturally, because the heart begins to share the Lord’s own longing for His people.
Practice for Day 23:
Set aside an extra block of undistracted time for prayer. Use Psalm 27, the Thirteen Attributes, or simply pour out your heart. Include specific intercession for the peace of Jerusalem and the full return of the House of Israel. Let prayer itself become an act of teshuvah—a turning of the face toward God.
